Monday, July 31, 2017

Ritchie Arana had to push his vacation to Key West back by a day after a nightmare Frontier Airlines flight from Cincinnati to Fort Lauderdale.First, Flight 1941 left Cincinnati two hours late Sunday. When it landed at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, passengers were stuck on the tarmac for about three hours. When they finally got off, some had to wait more than an hour for their luggage.“Everybody’s beyond frustrated,” Arana, a 29-year-old Cincinnati native, said Sunday as he waited for his luggage. “It’s my first time flying [with Frontier] and it’s most likely my last.”Airport officials say rainy weather and lightning had delayed several flights, but had no specific information about that flight.“We’ve had some weather-related impacts,” said Greg Meyers, spokesman for the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. “It’s pretty common this type of year.”After the initial delay, Flight 1941 was scheduled to arrive at 5:37 p.m. Passengers said they didn’t get off the plane until after 8:30 p.m.One person aboard the flight said they had heard yelling and commotion as frustrated passengers were told flight crews were having trouble with the plane’s ramp.At baggage claim, there was more waiting. When the bags finally came on the conveyor belt, many were wet from the rain, Arana said.The plane, an Airbus A320 model, seats between 100 and 240 people.Frontier did not respond to requests for comment Sunday.Frontier was one of three airlines recently fined for violating the federal Department of Transportation’s airline consumer protections rule.Frontier had the largest fine of $400,000 for violating overbooking and disability rules.The low cost Denver-based carrier announced earlier this month that it was expanding service in Miami and pulling out of Fort Lauderdale’s airport.Story and video ► http://www.sun-sentinel.com